Christchurch Alive! for Brass Band
Christchurch Alive! – Dale Vail
Composed: 2017
Commissioned by: Nor’west Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Contest & Concert Work
Christchurch Alive! was written for the Nor’west Brass Band as their own choice work for the 2018 New Zealand National Brass Band Contest. This piece stands as a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and spirit of the Christchurch community following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
Built around the harmonic circle of fifths—a timeless progression found in Baroque, Classical, jazz, and modern music—Christchurch Alive! weaves together musical eras much like the city itself, blending its past with its vibrant present. The work draws inspiration from masters such as Corelli, Bach, Vivaldi, and the modern classic Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma.
The piece opens with a solemn traditional melody underscored by tubular bells striking five times, symbolizing the first hour after the initial quake. From here, the music bursts into a lively New Orleans-style street band theme that celebrates the enduring nightlife and energy of Christchurch’s central city amid recovery.
A Vivaldi-inspired melody follows, evoking old and new architecture coexisting harmoniously. An offstage solo voice introduces a cadenza reminiscent of a busker at the Arts Centre markets, leading to a nostalgic flugelhorn melody reflecting on what was lost.
The music then cycles through a looping I–V progression, illustrating longing and remembrance, before a solo trombone emerges, evoking late-night jazz sessions from the Christchurch Jazz School. A melody inspired by Sibelius reminds listeners that while the past cannot be reclaimed, its legacy endures.
Themes reappear, culminating in a vibrant finale that symbolizes the fusion of old and new communities, the city’s restored landmarks, and an optimistic resolve to shape the future.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
Christchurch Alive! is a moving and richly textured work that offers both challenge and deep musical storytelling—ideal for contest stages and meaningful concert programming.
Christchurch Alive! – Dale Vail
Composed: 2017
Commissioned by: Nor’west Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Contest & Concert Work
Christchurch Alive! was written for the Nor’west Brass Band as their own choice work for the 2018 New Zealand National Brass Band Contest. This piece stands as a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and spirit of the Christchurch community following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
Built around the harmonic circle of fifths—a timeless progression found in Baroque, Classical, jazz, and modern music—Christchurch Alive! weaves together musical eras much like the city itself, blending its past with its vibrant present. The work draws inspiration from masters such as Corelli, Bach, Vivaldi, and the modern classic Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma.
The piece opens with a solemn traditional melody underscored by tubular bells striking five times, symbolizing the first hour after the initial quake. From here, the music bursts into a lively New Orleans-style street band theme that celebrates the enduring nightlife and energy of Christchurch’s central city amid recovery.
A Vivaldi-inspired melody follows, evoking old and new architecture coexisting harmoniously. An offstage solo voice introduces a cadenza reminiscent of a busker at the Arts Centre markets, leading to a nostalgic flugelhorn melody reflecting on what was lost.
The music then cycles through a looping I–V progression, illustrating longing and remembrance, before a solo trombone emerges, evoking late-night jazz sessions from the Christchurch Jazz School. A melody inspired by Sibelius reminds listeners that while the past cannot be reclaimed, its legacy endures.
Themes reappear, culminating in a vibrant finale that symbolizes the fusion of old and new communities, the city’s restored landmarks, and an optimistic resolve to shape the future.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
Christchurch Alive! is a moving and richly textured work that offers both challenge and deep musical storytelling—ideal for contest stages and meaningful concert programming.
Christchurch Alive! – Dale Vail
Composed: 2017
Commissioned by: Nor’west Brass Band
Format: Digital Download (PDF)
Instrumentation: British-Style Brass Band
Contest & Concert Work
Christchurch Alive! was written for the Nor’west Brass Band as their own choice work for the 2018 New Zealand National Brass Band Contest. This piece stands as a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and spirit of the Christchurch community following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
Built around the harmonic circle of fifths—a timeless progression found in Baroque, Classical, jazz, and modern music—Christchurch Alive! weaves together musical eras much like the city itself, blending its past with its vibrant present. The work draws inspiration from masters such as Corelli, Bach, Vivaldi, and the modern classic Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma.
The piece opens with a solemn traditional melody underscored by tubular bells striking five times, symbolizing the first hour after the initial quake. From here, the music bursts into a lively New Orleans-style street band theme that celebrates the enduring nightlife and energy of Christchurch’s central city amid recovery.
A Vivaldi-inspired melody follows, evoking old and new architecture coexisting harmoniously. An offstage solo voice introduces a cadenza reminiscent of a busker at the Arts Centre markets, leading to a nostalgic flugelhorn melody reflecting on what was lost.
The music then cycles through a looping I–V progression, illustrating longing and remembrance, before a solo trombone emerges, evoking late-night jazz sessions from the Christchurch Jazz School. A melody inspired by Sibelius reminds listeners that while the past cannot be reclaimed, its legacy endures.
Themes reappear, culminating in a vibrant finale that symbolizes the fusion of old and new communities, the city’s restored landmarks, and an optimistic resolve to shape the future.
Included in your purchase:
Full Score (PDF)
Complete Set of Parts (PDF)
Transposed Parts for Horns in F (optional)
Transposed Parts for Low Brass in C (Bass Clef) (optional)
Christchurch Alive! is a moving and richly textured work that offers both challenge and deep musical storytelling—ideal for contest stages and meaningful concert programming.